Page 95 of Every Little Kiss
Six-plus feet of built, badass swagger carrying a duffel bag and double-barreled dimples was on course and coming right for her. Liv couldn’t have moved if her life depended on it. Then he took off his sunglasses, and Liv wasn’t sure if she wanted to.
“If you’re mouth-to-mouth certified, I’m looking to be rescued, Officer Best Buns,” Mavis said from the sidewalk. Sitting in her wheelchair that had flashing red-and-blue lights on the back, and sporting a pinkWAG& WADDLEPATROLshirt, she was leading her team of volunteer officers toward the head of the parade.
“Actually, I’m the one who’s in need of a rescue,” he said, making his way forward, his eyes never leaving Liv’s.
“Well, this crew only works locally,” Mavis said with a tut.
“That’s all right. I’m not going anywhere.” Ford dropped his duffel bag at Liv’s feet and tangled his fingers with hers. “I’ve spent my whole life looking for families to save, which is why I came to Sequoia Lake, to save one more. Instead, I found this sexy, strong woman who amazed me at every turn, and instead of saving her, I think she saved me. Only I blew it.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “I was so busy trying to play the hero, I didn’t realize that she didn’t need saving.”
“All Mommy needs is cupcakes and hugs,” Paxton said from the float. “Tell him, Mommy.”
“Yeah,” Ford whispered, resting his hands on Liv’s hips, nudging her closer. He was dusty, rumpled, and looked as if he’d been living in a cave. Which, if the rumors were true and he’d taken his certification exam, he probably had. “Tell me what you need, because I’m listening.”
“A partner,” she whispered, her heart pounding against her ribcage until she was sure it would burst free. “Someone who wants to find the same pace with me. Someone to hold my hand and who isn’t afraid to let me hold his. Someone I can count on and who respects the relationship enough to count on me. Someone who knows life is too short not to eat the cupcake first.”
“I do love cupcakes, cupcake.” His voice dropped low when he spoke, and his hands dropped lower the closer she got. Then he wrapped those strong arms around her waist and gave her a slow, easy smile. “And I love you.”
“Love is the easy part, Ford.” She crossed her arms over her chest in hopes of keeping it intact, because it was pounding so hard she was afraid it would shatter even further. “It’s the rest of it that worries me.”
“No, love is the foundation, and when it’s pure, it means putting the other person first.”
“But this foundation was built on a lie,” she whispered.
“No, it was built on friendship and understanding, things that are real and matter. And yes, I lied. I lied because I thought I was protecting you,” he admitted. “By the time I realized that love doesn’t require protection, it was too late, Liv. Which is why I will never make that mistake again.”
Ford stepped closer, so she couldn’t look anywhere but at him, because he was right there in front of her, completely unfiltered with his heart in his eyes.
“I need a favor, Liv,” he asked intently, and Liv knew she was about to lose it. “And I need it to be one of those all-in, no-questions-asked kind of favors.”
Ford had never asked her for anything. He was always strong and stoic and the first one to lend a hand even if he already had his hands full. But right then, he looked uncertain and tired. The kind of tired that came from pushing through when all the signs said to stop. And for that reason, she said, “Okay.”
“I need you to give us a fair shot.”
“I did.”
“No, baby,” he said, holding her gaze. “You’ve been looking for a reason to shut me out since the first day we met.”
“Because I knew you were leaving.” And then she’d be alone. Again. Left to pick up the pieces and find a new path. One that wouldn’t be as shiny or fun—or as magical.
Not that it mattered. He’d wiggled his way in, and she’d lost him all the same.
“That’s not the same as leaving you, Liv,” he said quietly, and Liv’s throat tightened with the truth. “Because there’s something you need to understand. I’m an all-in kind of guy. It’s how I operate, and the second you let me in, I went all the way in. There’s no leaving that.”
With a tender look that was so achingly familiar, he pulled an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to her. It had “Reno Sheriff’s Department” as the return address.
“Is that your certification?” she asked, afraid to touch it for fear that today was just a brief stopover.
“No. It’s me listening and putting you first,” he said, pulling out the letter and holding it up. And Liv’s heart swelled in her chest until she was afraid that she would run out of room. Because at the top of the letter, right under his Type 1 certification ranking, were two words that had hope bubbling up until it overflowed.
“Transfer approved,” she said, trying to read the details, but all of the words began to blur. “You’re transferring?”
“I’m the head of the new K-9 search-and-rescue division for Sequoia Elite Mountain Rescue.” He pulled her even closer, their hips and thighs brushing.
“For how long?”
“I was thinking until Paxton heads off to college, and then you can pick a place on the map you’ve always wanted to visit and we’ll go exploring. Together.”
Compromise,she thought. Ford was offering her everything she needed, while keeping an eye on his own dreams. That was what a relationship was about. It wasn’t give or take—it was finding the right combination every single day.
